Canada's #1 Junior Golf Tour

July 16, 2018
Calgary, AB

MJT Mini Tour Alberta Season Finale Kicks off Busy Week at McKenzie Meadows - Junior Tour Continues Through Wednesday

Calgary, AB. (July 17, 2018) – Calgary, Alberta based McKenzie Meadows Golf Club played host to multiple MJT events this week, including a Mini Tour event for competitive golfers 12 years and under, the Woodridge Ford Lincoln Go Golf! Clinic for non-competitive golfers 12 years and under as well as the MJT Ford Series PGA of Alberta Junior Championship stop, which wraps up on Wednesday.

In the Woodridge Ford Lincoln Go Golf! free junior clinic, 45 new golfers were introduced to the game by PGA of Canada Professionals from McKenzie Meadows Golf Club and the MJT. Participants took part in three different stations which included putting, chipping and full swing, while also being taught proper golf etiquette. McKenzie Meadows is the last stop on the clinic’s circuit for Alberta. For more information on other clinics which remain on the schedule for 2018, please click here. For pictures of this clinic, please find us on Facebook.

On the competitive side, juniors aged 12 and under from across western Canada gathered to compete in Alberta’s final Mini Tour stop of 2018. Each winner of the following six divisions earned an invitation to Tsawwassen Springs, in Tsawwassen, BC, to compete in the Mini Tour National Championship on August 23 and 24. They also earned direct exemptions into the US Kids British Championships set to be held from August 9-10 at Celtic Manor Golf Resort in Wales, United Kingdom.  

MJT 8U Boys: Jayden Arnold, 7, of Calgary, AB ran away with the Boys 8U division shooting a very impressive 74, winning by a total of 16 shots over runner-up, Connor Riou, 8, of Strathmore, AB. Arnold, who is now a two-time winner on the Mini Tour was excited about his win saying, “I am very happy about this win especially on such a difficult course.”

MJT 9-10 Boys: In the boys 9-10 division, it was Warman, SK native Dane Giesbrecht, 10, who took home medalist honours with a solid round of 74. Runner-up Brady Durkin, 10, of Sylvan Lake, AB was eight shots back at 82. Giesbrecht was able to improve upon his runner-up finish at River Bend earlier in the season to earn an invitation to the Mini Tour National Championship.

MJT 11-12 Boys: Kerrick Norrie Asquith, 11, of Lethbridge, AB, already a winner on the MJT Mini Tour in 2018, picked up his second division title a McKenzie Meadows. Asquith, who’s other win came at Alberta’s season opener, shot 84 to win by two strokes over Ryan Badger, 11, of Edmonton, AB. When asked about his win, Asaquith said, “I felt good about this win because I have won two (starts) in a row now, and my confidence is high going into the National Championship at the end of August in BC.”

MJT 8U Girls: Aleah Shields-Rodipe, 7, of Calgary, AB improved upon her second place finish earlier this season at River Bend by capturing the Girls 8U division at McKenzie Meadows. Shields-Rodipe was able to secure a spot in the National Championship by shooting an impressive 86 on the difficult 18-hole layout. “I love to play the MJT because it gives me an opportunity to play a full 18 holes, not many Tours give that opportunity to kids 8 and under,” said Shields-Rodipe. Shields-Rodipe beat runner-up, Serin Girard, 8, of Red Deer, AB by 21 strokes. 

MJT 9-10 Girls: Stacie Hansen, 10, of Okotoks, AB, took home the division crown for the Girls 9-10 for the third time in 2018. Hansen has now won each of the Mini Tour stops in Alberta. With each tournament, Hansen is gaining more confidence saying, “I know I can hit it really good, now.” Hansen will look to test her skills against girls from across the Country in her age group in August at the National Championship in BC.

MJT 11-12 Girls: Sarah Armstrong, 12, of Chilliwack, BC, traveled to Calgary to compete at McKenzie Meadows. Armstrong was solid all day firing 80 to win by 14 strokes over second place finisher, Jade Carter, 12, of Calgary, AB. Armstrong will look to continue this momentum into the two remaining stops on BC’s Mini Tour schedule before competing in the National Championship at the end of August.

For full results and pictures, please visit the MJT website, which also shows winners of the PLYR Closest-to-the-Pin competitions. Players who successfully qualified for the US Kids British Championship will be contacted as soon as possible.

The Mini Tour schedule in Alberta is now complete, however there are still two more events in BC before the National Championship presented by Ford Canada on August 23 and 24. One of the events is in Chilliwack, BC while the other is in Richmond, BC. Please visit the MJT website for more details on each event.

About the MJT: The non-profit Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour presented by Boston Pizza is Canada’s number one-played Junior Golf Tour as well as the only national junior tour run exclusively by PGA of Canada Professionals and the ‘Road to College Golf’ in Canada. The organization is presented nationally by Boston Pizza and supported by valued Premier, Tournament and Product Partners. The MJT hosts more than 70 events across Canada, including free Ford Go Golf Junior Clinics, the MJT Mini Tour for 7-12 year olds, the Collegiate Tour for 19-23 year olds, and multi-day events for competitive players aged 11 to 18, which are also qualifiers for international competitions. The program offers annual awards, scholarships, and frequent player incentives to help reward player's performance and participation throughout each season. MJT alumni include many Professional Tour players and PGA of Canada Professionals, as well as Canadian Amateur, National and Provincial Junior Champions. The MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life, promoting the game from grassroots through to provincial, national, university and professional level. For more information on the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour, please visit www.maplejt.com

Media Contact: Russ MacKay, Operations Manager, Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour rmackay@maplejt.com 1-877-859-GOLF  www.maplejt.com